Walter Whitman

Bio-information
Named after his father, Walt Whitman was born in Huntington, Long Island, New York, on May 31, 1819. His mother's name was Louisa Van Velsor. Walt, along with many others at that time, was a Quaker. He did not have very formal or good schooling. Walt moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1823. In 1836 Walt Whitman, 17 years old, began his career as an innovative teacher. In 1841, he had a full-time career as a journalist. In 1846 - 1847, he was the editor of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Walt Whitman died March 26, 1892 because of complications of a stroke.

Other pertinent information
He was friends with Tom Paine, who was a main claim to fame. At age 12, Walt Whitman started to learn the printers trade and fell in love with written and printed word. Music was a major source of Walt's inspiration. Walt was inspired by writers like Goethe, Hegel, Carlyte, and Emerson.

*The "democratic" poet, Walt Whitman is often credited as the Father of American Free Verse

Famous poems
  • A noiseless patient spider
  • Beat! Beat! drums!
  • I hear America Singing
  • I sit and look out
  • Miracles
  • O Captain! My Captain!
  • O Me! O Life!

Historical Events
  • Gold Rush
  • Civil War
  • Abolition of Slavery
  • War between Mexico and America

Poetry Styles

  • anaphora
  • catalogue
  • free verse
  • Uses repetition
  • society-based (common man)
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